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All Chapters of Six Times He Left Her at the Altar. The Seventh, I Stopped Waiting.: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

Cade left without looking back.I curled my fingers tight without thinking.His scent still hung in the air. I couldn't even muster the strength to take one more breath.Nina saw my red eyes and couldn't stand it."Celine, are you still gonna go wait for Cade at the ceremony?"I shook my head."No."I used to think we had time too. That's why I was willing to wait.Now I understood.This was God's will.If even God didn't want me dragging him down, who was I to fight it?I went through the things Cade and the Russell family had entrusted to me over the past three years one more time.Ordinary gifts didn't need to go back. But the engagement ring and several pieces of Russell family heirloom jewelry would have to be returned once the engagement was called off.These had been kept in separate vaults, and a couple of pieces had been sent out for maintenance. I went through them one by one and made a list.I handed the list to my parents and Nina."My body's getting worse by the day. The s

Chapter 2

Nina was worried I'd be mistreated. The second she heard, she came in right behind them.She planted herself in front of my bed. "Cade, the ceremony's already off. And you're still bringing this woman who's been milking a favor for years to my sister's face? What's that supposed to mean?"I struggled to sit up and pulled Nina behind me."Nina, Leah saved Cade's life. You can't talk about her like that."Nina has a temper. Any other day, she wouldn't have backed down.But the doctors had warned her. With how sick I was, the last thing I needed was stress.No matter how furious she was, she swallowed it. For me.I patted Nina's shoulder, then turned to Cade. "Cade, I woke up with a bit of a fever this morning. Not feeling great.""Let's push the ceremony back a few days.""Leah's wedding just got set. She's probably nervous. Spend the next few days with her.""I've got Dad and Mom and Nina. Don't worry about me."Cade's eyes went red. He turned to Leah, almost proud. "See, Leah? Told you

Chapter 3

That was exactly what I wanted.Only if everyone knew the engagement was over would Cade be free to marry someone else without carrying a mess from the past.But I didn't say that. I made up an excuse."Cade, I'm thinking of you here.""Leah's making her first real entrance into the Carter circle. She can't show up looking like she doesn't belong. Let her borrow the jewelry for now. Once our ceremony's done, you can replace them. Simple."Cade hesitated, then nodded."You always think of everything."I forced myself upright. "Come on, let me show you the pieces.""You can check which ones came from the Russell family so we know what needs to go back later."Cade frowned. "Celine, aside from the ring and the family heirlooms, everything else is yours now. Do whatever you want with it. Nothing to replace."The words slipped out before I could stop them. "Everything that should go back, will. One piece short is one piece owed. I don't want things getting messy later."Cade stopped dead."

Chapter 4

I'd already made up my mind not to hold the ceremony. The dress was just going to hang there.Might as well use it to do one last thing for Cade.But my generosity didn't sit well with him."Celine, quit being petty.""If you give the dress away, what are you wearing in three days?"His voice went cold for the first time as he turned to Leah. "And you, stop with the kicked-puppy act. You're putting Celine in a tough spot.""I'll get the best designer to make you a new one. End of story."Cade pushed the dress back toward me. I didn't take it. I played it light. "It's fine. We go back years. I trust you.""Even without a dress, you wouldn't drop me. Right?"Cade nodded without a beat of hesitation."Of course not.""Celine, in this lifetime, you're the only wife I'll ever have."Then he handed the dress to Leah."Since Celine said it's okay, take it.""But don't take advantage of her kindness. Stay here tonight, and don't cause her any more trouble."Leah nodded sweetly.I thought that

Chapter 5

"Celine, what did you just say?!"Cade's eyes were wide with shock.He thought he'd misheard. He asked again.I repeated it patiently. Not a ripple in my voice."I said I'm stepping aside. If you've decided to take care of Leah, then be with her."Cade looked like he'd lost his mind. He grabbed my shoulders, eyes red and terrifying."Celine, I know I messed up. But I already apologized. Do you really have to say something this hurtful?"I kept my voice even. "Cade, I'm not trying to hurt you.""I just think seven missed ceremonies is God telling us we aren't meant to be.""If that's how it is, maybe we should stop fighting it."Cade kept shaking his head."No. We haven't missed anything. And there's no such thing as not meant to be."He let go of me suddenly, turned, and practically fled out the door.All he left behind was one sentence. "Celine, I don't believe in God.""And I'm not leaving it up to fate.""Three days from now, I'm coming back. The ceremony happens. You're my wife. No

Chapter 6

I pulled my hand back fast. I knew he couldn't see inside, but I still shrank away.Nina was driving herself today. She didn't want a rough ride jostling me, so she'd left the driver behind.Her voice was flat. "Cade, nobody's in the car.""A friend of mine got stuck in the snow outside the city. I'm going to pick her up.""What about you? Where are you coming from?"Cade didn't suspect a thing. He just laughed. "Celine smashed the gifts and stomped on the dress, remember? I went to get her new ones.""Look, had someone fly these in overnight from Milan. A new dress, and the pearls she loves."Nina couldn't help herself. "Cade, Celine didn't smash anything. She didn't mistreat anyone either. Why would you..."I tapped the window lightly, signaling Nina to stop.She wanted to say more. But she couldn't stand to upset me.She swallowed the rest and let out a cold huff. "I'll pass along the thought for Celine.""But that wedding dress, since she already gave it to Leah, she's not going to

Chapter 7

If I'd had any choice, I would never have wanted Cade to know.But I couldn't even get out of bed. There was no way I could stop Nina.All I could do was lie there and listen to everything happening outside.I couldn't see Cade's face. I only knew he went quiet for a long time.Then he laughed."Nina, looks like Celine really is furious this time.""She's making up death threats now to get a reaction.""Fine, tell her I'll let the whole thing go. I won't say she did any of it. Just stop with this and come back with me."Nina couldn't believe how stubborn he was.She turned toward my room, helpless. "Sis, I can't get through to him.""You wanna tell him yourself?"Before I could open my mouth, the doctor beside me whispered to Nina. "Nina, I just ran her vitals. She's got three days at most.""If he stresses her out any more, it could..."The doctor's voice was low, but Cade heard every word.He grabbed the doctor by the collar, face dark as a storm."What do you mean three days?!""You

Chapter 8

Dying really does turn you into dead weight. I couldn't even get up to stop him.All I could do was lean against the headboard and listen.Cade's voice was cold enough to cut. "Leah, you know damn well why Celine's upset. Don't you?"Leah didn't follow. "Yeah? She's mad because I delayed your ceremony. Mad because I slept with you."Cade scoffed."That all?""Framing her for destroying the dress and the gifts? Not gonna mention that?"Leah froze, voice panicking. "Cade, I don't know what you're talking about.""You don't? Then let me spell it out.""You framed Celine because you needed an excuse for that night. As for the Carters finding out so fast, you think I didn't look into that?""The hotel hallway cameras got it all. Your assistant brought the Carter people to that floor on purpose. You never planned to marry Daniel. You were after me from the start.""Because Daniel has the Carter name but no inheritance, no business. And in your eyes, he was never going to measure up to the CE

Chapter 9

Cade turned to Leah."I've spent years keeping my promise to you. I've done everything I could. That promise ends here.""As for the scandal after that night, you engineered the whole thing. Don't try to use it against me.""The costs from canceling the Carter engagement, the legal fees, your living expenses and your mother's, I'll have my lawyer set up a ten-million-dollar trust. Is that enough?"Cade called his lawyer right in front of her. "Get the settlement agreement to her today."He hung up. His voice was ice. "Sign it when it arrives. If you come near Celine again, I'll file a restraining order. And I'll pursue charges for the property damage and for framing her.""From this point forward, the Russell family and I personally will not be providing you with any resources or financial support."Leah knew better than to push. She knew he meant it.Watching her defeated back as she walked away, I smiled helplessly. "Cade, finding someone who's willing to stay isn't easy. Why won't y

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